Compatibility of biocontrol agents with fungicides against red rot disease of sugarcane

For managing red rot disease of sugarcane through integrated approach, studies were conducted on compatibility of biocontrol agents with fungicides against the pathogenColletotrichum falcatum Went. The systemic fungicides viz., thiophanate methyl and carbendazim were tested with fungal (Trichoderma) and bacterial (Pseudomonas fluorescens) biocontol agents.In vitro growth ofP. fluorescens (11 strains) was not affected up to 500 ppm of both the fungicides when its growth was measured by turbidity value of bacterial growth, whileTrichoderma (6 strains) could not grow even at 1 ppm of carbendazim and 10 ppm of thiophanate methyl. However the antagonistic activity of Trichoderma strains was influenced by addition of 1 ppm thiophanate methyl, which resulted in enhanced suppression ofC. falcatum growth. Under pot culture conditions also efficacy of combined treatments over individual treatments was noticed. The treatment receiving thiophanate methyl andP. fluorescens recorded the maximum plant survival of 81.67%, while other combined treatments had comparable effect.